“It’s definitely been a learning experience from January till now,” Sloane said, adding she had no regrets for any of her statements. “I think I’ve had, you know, a lot of learning experiences. I’ve had a great year. I’m really pleased with the way it’s gone. Obviously it’s the last slam of the year. You want to do as best you can. All you can do is go out there and do your best. Obviously, that’s it: just go out and play hard, just see what happens.

“As I always say, I think it will be epic,” Sloane said yesterday after beating American No. 3 Jamie Hampton. “I’m really looking forward to it. See what happens.”

Serena, who’s taken the higher road thus far, commented on the match following a very late victory last night.

“I think it will be a good match,” Serena said. “I think she’s playing really well. I’ll have a really tough match. I definitely don’t feel like I’m going in there as a favorite because she’s playing great, even though I’m playing good, too. She really has nothing to lose and she excels in situations like that. So I think she’ll be really good. I’ll just have to see how it goes.”

With Agnieszka Radawanska, Sloana and Serena are the only women to reach the fourth round at all four Slams this year.

Why the animosity toward Sloane? She’s a young tennis player growing up on the courts and I’m sure learning all along the way. Since when do 20 year olds have to know it all? A beat down from Serena wouldn’t be surprising. What’s surprising is that at age 20 she can compete with Serena at all.

There is an unwritten rule in tennis that you should not say anything negative against Serena. That is why her outbursts against umpires (or anybody)are always played down or even justified. Only high praises are allowed when talking about Serena (and Venus, too).

I agree with you Polo.
Anyone who critices the Williams sisters are painted as a racist.
There are many who feel those two look UGLY, dress UGLY and behave in an even more UGLY and arrogant manner without any class. This does not have anything to do with their race.

well, i don’t think that qualifies as epic…sorry sloane. she had some chances in the first set to at least keep it even, but the UE’s haunted her. that being said, i still think it would have been straight sets for serena.